Federal cabinet rejects Mahar for Sindh IGP slot, seeks more names from province.

ISLAMABAD -- The federal cabinet on Tuesday decided against appointing Mushtaq Mahar as the Sindh inspector general of police (IGP) after cabinet members from the province expressed strong reservations over the matter.

According to Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed Sindh Governor Imran Ismail to once again discuss names for the new IGP with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

Briefing the media about the federal cabinet's meeting, Awan said, "After consultation between the prime minister and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Mushtaq Mahar's name had been suggested [in the cabinet] for the Sindh IGP position but cabinet members from the province strongly opposed the idea.

"Keeping in mind the majority view, the prime minister has asked the Sindh governor to discuss the matter with the province's chief minister.

"The two will hold discussions on the other names suggested for the IGP position as well as new names so that a consensus can be reached on the matter," Awan said.

Earlier in the day, Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani had, with much surety, said that Sindh IGP Kaleem Imam would be replaced today.

"There is no deadlock between Sindh and the Centre over the matter and we are expecting that the IGP will be removed today," Ghani had said while talking to media

The comment had come after Sindh IGP Imam, while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Sindh Police Martyrs Memorial at Central Police Office (CPO) in Karachi, had said that he would not be transferred from his position so easily, adding that a "big conspiracy" was being staged against him.

"The impression being created is that I have been transferred and this ceremony has been transformed into a transfer ceremony. I would like to say that I will not be transferred that easily," Imam had said.

The Sindh inspector general said that when he does go, it will not be a transfer - in fact "it will be a new evolution".

"I will transcend on to new stages," he added.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Imran Khan not only cancelled his...